Fine needle aspiration cytology of toxoplasmic lymphadenitis

A retrospective study of four cases of toxoplasmic lymphadenitis diagnosed by fine needle aspiration and confirmed by serology or biopsy is reported. The cytopathologic features of this disease, not previously described in the American literature, were found to be highly characteristic and are described in this report. Toxoplasmic lymphadenitis is a fairly common cause of lymphadenopathy, and surgical biopsy is frequently performed because of a suspicion of lymphoma. Since the disease is generally self-limited, no treatment is necessary, and fine needle aspiration can spare the patient unnecessary hospitalization and surgery.